Kazakhstan says a senior U.S. diplomat has thanked its foreign minister for supporting international efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Robert Blake, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, had expressed his thanks in a phone call with Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabaev.

It said Blake highlighted Kazakhstan's help in training Afghan students and its contribution to the activities of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Kazakhstan is on a rail transit route for supplying NATO-led forces in Afghanistan with nonlethal cargo.